For the past few months I've been a lurker around here getting my fix on everything 1-series related. I am planning on finally making the move to custom order one within the next month, so now that I think I know enough about the car, its benefits (and also some of its drawbacks), it is time to start considering dealers. The only cars I have owned prior to this are Audis, so I don't know much about the BMW dealers and their reputations. Before posting this question, I did a quick search but did not find a conclusive post about dealers in the Boston area, so I hope I didn't miss anything and this is a repost.

I live in metro west, and the closest one to me is Foreign Motors West. I have also heard about Wagner BMW, BMW Gallery, and Inskip BMW. I was wondering what kind of sales experience people have had at these places? If you had a particularly good one and could recommend a CA to me, please PM me the name if possible. Also, if your 1-er or past BMW has been in for service, please let me know how that was as I plan on holding on to this car for a while.

I purchased my first BMW at Herb Chambers in Boston, and it was not a great experience. It just wasn't a friendly negotiation, and it was like pulling teeth. They really just didn't want to budge on anything, it was as if they expected I should plunk down the sticker cost or something, even though they full well know its overinflated (as an industry practice). Then, when the car turned out to be a Lemon and was in the shop for a month after I bought it, they didn't want to take it back. Huge fight ensues for two weeks, and I ram car down their throats, and they upgrade me to another one, which runs as expected. Those two weeks were awful, and it was a real down and out fight with managers there to have them do anything. I had to yell and threaten before anything got done, when I was nice they ignored me and said there was nothing they could do.

That said, their mechanics made valiant efforts and were super nice to me, and gave me lots of advice in the process, including what to say to sales and management to get my car replaced. I would take my car there for service in a second, good guys.

I attempted to purchase a vehicle (upgrade) at Foreign Motors West, but I could not get them to sell me a car. They were more than willing to let me buy one, but made no effort to actually sell me one, or to give any sort of incentive, push, or barter on price. I do take my car to FMW for service, and they have always done an excellent job there. The only issue is that they do not have a lot of BMW loaners, so you might be driving a Ford Focus or some other death trap if you don't specify when making an appointment.

I actually got my 128i at Herb in Boston, different salesman, and it was an extremely nice experience the second time around. It took almost no time, they were very good on the price, and it was just all around a very pleasant experience, I can't complain. It might have been that they really wanted to sell cars due too economy, but I think the salesman had a lot to do with it. I mean, I went in to merely *look* at cars and bought one in about 2 hrs, so you know that guy was pretty good and nice to deal with.

My advice to go all over, and see how you feel about the person you are dealing with, and to get a feel for whether the guy wants to make a sale or not. You can sort of feel it when the guy really wants to make a sale, and is willing to work with you to make it happen.

as said befor it depends a lot on the salesman you work with but I've had pretty good experiences with Foreign Motors West. I don't believe it is quite the same place it was befor herb bought them but I had a good experience getting my 1er. It was when they first came out so I wasn't looking for the best deal either. I did get mine for less than list but not a lot less.

I agree that a lot of your experience depends on which salesman you talk to. We bought a 328xit last year and a 128i this year from Jack McDevitt at Inskip. Great guy, real BMW enthusiast, and willing to work hard for a deal.

I will definitely take all of these into consideration. It seems like my best bet is not to rule out any one dealer, but to initiate contact with the recommended people rather than walking in blind and asking for any salesman.

Thanks for all the help! Hopefully someone else may find this useful as well...

I had David Williamson at BMW Gallery Norwood.. really good guy, he was helpful, no BS, and hooked me up with $500 off MSRP when I bought.. which I guess is a crappy deal now but was pretty good stuff when I ordered it in April.

Hmm, I wouldn't care if the guy didn't know ANYTHING about cars. That isn't the key. You the customer know about the product, doesn't matter if he does. I'm sure guys here know more than the sales people do. If you do the online research, you don't need a salesman that knows anything other than the lowest price that he can sell you that car for and not be denied by his manager. I would look for a place that has the best price. Not willing to "pay" for a knowledgeable sales guy, there is no point.

It is a buyer's market, you should be able to get a great deal right now, and they should be happy to have you buy a car. A lot of these places are paying massive amounts of rent on their inventory, which is just sitting there. Not to mention, some places buy cars on credit, so they are making payments on cars which are aging. The best bet for them to lessen the pain is to get rid of a lot of cars, reduce inventory and associated costs.

Rick Scretti Bmw of Peabody...bought 2 cars from him myself and sent a few friends and family as well...all turned into successful sales and people driving away in bmw's. I had a bad experience with chambers when i was trying to buy a E350 :cure edition: with cash they wouldn’t even do anything for me

sometimes you just have to bring up names that they know, so if they don't do something good they won't keep business, We bought 2 1ers just recently, so are my friends who got great deal on his trade in, that's why I mentioned look for ahmed and mention that you're my friend, chances are I won't be buying any Bimmer anytime soon now that we have 2, but dealer like that would do some good, I have few friend who got a good deal with him already that's why I said Herb Chamer boston is a good place to go.

I have already made some preliminary contact with the people that were recommended here. Hopefully they are all working on the same day early in april so I can just drive around to every dealer and make this happen. Too bad I won't have my 1 for that little road trip!

Hmm, I wouldn't care if the guy didn't know ANYTHING about cars. That isn't the key. You the customer know about the product, doesn't matter if he does. I'm sure guys here know more than the sales people do. If you do the online research, you don't need a salesman that knows anything other than the lowest price that he can sell you that car for and not be denied by his manager. I would look for a place that has the best price. Not willing to "pay" for a knowledgeable sales guy, there is no point.

I agree, and this is why I didn't go with him. But it is refreshing sometimes to talk to someone who can figure lease payments on the spot and knows his stuff. But I agree it's not worth paying for.

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